March 29, Saturday, is Vietnam Veterans Recognition Day. As in the years past, SSG Travis Mills USA(Ret) is hosting his Vietnam Veterans Welcome Home Breakfast on the preceding Wednesday, March 26 from 9-11 a.m. at the Augusta Civic Center. Registration is required. To register, go to: https://www.classy.org/event/2025-vietnam-era-veterans-breakfast/e610136.

On Friday, March 28 at 1200, the State is holding their annual Vietnam Veteran Recognition Ceremony at the Capital in the Hall of Flags. If you are a Vietnam era veteran, you should consider going and bringing your significant others, kids, grandkids, great grandkids (I have 2) as I think this is part of history that should be known to the future generations. It is not a long ceremony so kids won’t, well shouldn’t, get too restless.

A special THANK YOU to Mike Labbe from the VA who last Wednesday, 5 March, came to the Legion Hall and helped 10 veterans get connected with Login.gov or ID.ME or both. If there are others who couldn’t make that day, Mike is available via phone at (877) 421-8263 or (207) 512-6983.

Henry Rowe, LCDR/USN (retired) passed away in October 2020. After leaving active duty he had a career in the CIA. In retirement, Henry (ie not getting paid anymore) dedicated himself to the community, working tirelessly in civic, political and religious organizations in the Boothbay region. Henry was a dedicated member of the Legion for over 30 years, serving in many capacities including Post Chaplain. Henry also placed a high priority on education, influenced by his own educational career. Henry enlisted in the Navy and under a Navy program he received his bachelor’s degree in electronic engineering from the University of Illinois, and his master's degree in engineering administration from George Washington University. In his passing, he bequeathed funds to initiate a scholarship to be used to further the education for those in the community. His daughter Cheryl added to the scholarship fund. The Rowe Post 36 Educational Scholarship program has now launched. The $500 scholarship has been established to focus initially on Post Secondary School education to be award to a veteran or servicemember on Active Duty residing within the Boothbay Peninsula Region or Post 36 member. All applicants must have been accepted, or a returning student, to a post-secondary school, e.g. college, grad school, trade school, etc. This is an annual award. Previous recipients will remain eligible to apply in subsequent years. Applications are available at the Legion Hall or by contacting Cathy Moroney at catmoroney@aol.com or (207) 237-4696. Application deadline is March 31.

There is an important Legislative Bill (LD366) being considered in Augusta. Currently, retirement pay for retired military is not taxed by the State. LD366 would make retirement pay from Space Force, United States Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and United States Public Health Service State tax exempt. If you think this bill is important, let Representative Stover and Senator Reny know.